Review of Baby Doll (1982) by L T — 12 Dec 2009

Say what you want about it's controversial subject matter or it's questionable place in cinematic history, Baby Doll is just one Marlon Brando away from being a top 100 film. As it is, I wouldn't classify it as anything less than a minor masterpiece.

All the elements are here, Elia Kazan's direction, Tennessee Williams' screenplay, Karl Malden's performance. Were it not for a couple of serious lapses in marketing judgment we might be talking about this film the way we talk about A Streetcar Named Desire or Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. You just don't put a provocatively posed adolescent girl on the poster and then release the film at Christmas! Especially not in 1956. It's as if they were daring the Catholic League of Decency to denounce the film (which they did).

I'm not saying that this picture is as good as Streetcar, but it's oh-so-close.